Carl Albert State vs Connors State: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the OCAC. Carl Albert State runs $957 less per year out of state; Carl Albert State graduates 12 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Carl Albert State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Carl Albert State lists $957 less per year in tuition and housing than Connors State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Carl Albert State graduates 12 percentage points more of its students than Connors State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Carl Albert State is $2,138 lower than at Connors State.
Lean Connors State if…
- You would be in-state: Connors State is $526 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Carl Albert State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Connors State graduates earn about $4,352 more per year a decade after enrolling.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Carl Albert State | Connors State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $4,230 | $3,704 — Connors State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $8,707 | $7,562 — Connors State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $5,580 — Carl Albert State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $7,682 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $9,810 — Carl Albert State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $11,386 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $14,287 — Carl Albert State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $15,244 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Carl Albert State | Connors State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 41% — Carl Albert State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 29% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $34,117/yr | $38,469/yr — Connors State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,362 — Carl Albert State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $11,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 27% — Carl Albert State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 30% |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Carl Albert State | Connors State |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,786 | 2,098 |
| Where it is | Poteau, OK | Warner, OK |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Carl Albert State | Connors State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Lexi Watson | Bobby Foreman |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Carl Albert State | Connors State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges), so the scholarship rules are identical: varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Carl Albert State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Connors State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Carl Albert State vs Connors State: common questions
- Is Carl Albert State or Connors State cheaper?
- On published price, Carl Albert State is cheaper — about $14,287 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $15,244 at Connors State. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Carl Albert State or Connors State?
- Carl Albert State, at 41% against 29% at Connors State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Carl Albert State and Connors State offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges): varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Carl Albert State and Connors State?
- Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Carl Albert State and Connors State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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